Python covered in more than 500 Australian paralysis ticks rescued from pool: ‘He’s trying to drown them’

A snake-catcher in Australia rescued a carpet python riddled with more than 500 paralysis ticks from a family’s backyard pool after the reptile slithered into the water in an attempt to drown the arachnids.

Tony Harrison from Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catcher responded to a call in Queensland to remove a snake from a backyard pool on Wednesday. The professional snake-catcher was live streaming on Facebook when he arrived at his client’s home, only to be horrified by what he had found.

“Jesus Christ, look at the ticks on him,” Harrison said. “What happens is in Mother Nature animals can live in harmony with parasites both internal and external. If something happens to them the parasites get the better of them.